Dogs

How To Make Your Dog More Comfortable While Traveling

11/02/2017 By Jenn 1 Comment

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Disclosure: Sponsored post written by Tracy Vicory-Rosenquest, Rover.com community member. Rover is the nation’s largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

Whether you’re planning a trip with your doggies or leaving them with a pet sitter, it takes planning ahead to be ready. Even if your dog loves traveling with you or is usually well behaved when you’re gone, take the time to make sure you and your pets will be comfortable. Here are a few dos and don’ts from Rover.com as you get ready for your trip.

Make Your Dog More Comfortable While Traveling

Taking Your Dog on Your Trip

Do: Bring your dog’s favorite toys. At some point, your dog will get bored, restless, or anxious, and you’ll need an entertainment solution. You’ll also want to plan time for plenty of exercise along the way. A tired dog is a better travel companion.

Don’t: Buy all new stuff for the trip. Your dog needs familiar smells to feel comfortable for the journey. If you do plan to buy a few new things, make sure your dog can break them in before you leave.

Do: Plan out your sleeping arrangements before you leave. Not every hotel or campsite will accommodate your dog, so you’ll want to think through where you and your pup will be sleeping at your destination.

Don’t: Expect every road-side stop to be dog-friendly. At the very least, check out your options for restaurants, parks, and sites that you want to visit to ensure your dog is welcome too.

Leaving Your Dog at Home

Do: Schedule time to introduce (or reintroduce) your dog to the pet sitter before you leave for your trip. If your pup is meeting someone new, plan a meet and greet so your dog can sniff out the new sitter, and you can make sure the pet sitter is comfortable with your dog. If your dog already knows the pet sitter, it’s still a good idea to have them reconnect before you leave.

This will make your Dog More Comfortable While Traveling as they know the sitter.

Don’t: Leave your dog with a pet sitter they’ve never met. Even if your dog is calm and loving with you, it’s unpredictable how your dog will respond to someone new. You don’t want to put your pet sitter in an uncomfortable situation if it doesn’t go well.

Do: Determine what you’re expecting from a pet sitter while you’re away. Write out your dog’s daily routine and how you manage it. Work with your pet sitter before you leave so they are clear on the daily schedule and can uphold any training commands that you use.

Don’t: Leave your pet sitter without instructions. This seems like a no-brainer, but the more clear you are about what works and what doesn’t work with your pup the happier your pet sitter will be. You and your pup are better off with a pet sitter who is confident and prepared.

If you are interested in being a pet sitter, the benefits of becoming a sitter with Rover.com are numerous. Rover provides a community of pet owners looking for pet sitters in cities across the country. Visit Rover.com to learn more or to get started.

How do you make your Dog More Comfortable While Traveling?

Tips for Behavior Training Aggressive Dogs

06/30/2014 By Jenn 8 Comments

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Aggressive behavior is one of the most serious problems a dog owner has to deal with. An aggressive dog can damage property, fight with other animals or injure another person. Failure to control an aggressive dog could even result in a visit from a Taylor and Blair Surrey personal injury attorney. The good news is that most aggressive dogs can be trained to change their behavior. It’s simply a matter of understanding what causes dog aggression, then devising ways to deal with it. There are two primary causes of aggression in dogs: lack of exercise, and the desire to be dominant. Understand that aggression is rarely related to a specific breed. Any dog can be aggressive if the right conditions exist.

Tips for Behavior Training Aggressive Dogs

Proper Exercise
It’s not good for any breed to be cooped up inside all day with nothing to do. A lack of exercise results in boredom and an inability to work out the natural energy dogs possess. The need for exercise isn’t so noticeable in small breeds because they may get plenty of exercise running around the house. Things are different for larger breeds. The first step in training your dog to abandon aggressive behavior is to make sure regular exercise is part of the daily routine. This can include walks around the neighborhood, chasing toys in the park, playing with other dogs, or any other activity your pet enjoys. The idea is to get him out and moving so he burns off the excess energy. Make time to play and wear out your dog’s energy.

Addressing Dominance
Dogs are pack animals, and are naturally programmed to exist within a hierarchical framework. Aggressive dogs tend to be lacking in any sort of recognized hierarchy, so they seek to dominate people and other animals. The tendency to dominate can be corrected by establishing the proper hierarchy at home. Remember that your dog is not a person. It is an animal that needs to be treated as such. When dealing with your dog, always use firm and confident language that displays you are in charge. The moment your dog starts moving toward aggression, distract him. He can’t be aggressive toward people or animals he cannot focus on. You can try distracting the dog with sound, a firm tug on the leash, a clap, or anything else that gets his attention.

This is only scratching the surface of curbing training aggressive dogs. For more information about dealing with aggressive dogs, consult a veterinarian or dog trainer. Remember, very few dogs are so far gone that aggressive behavior cannot be corrected.

Guest Post written by Brooke Chaplan. Brooke is a freelance writer and recent graduate of the University of New Mexico. She enjoys hiking, biking, running and blogging about many different subjects including family, home and fitness. Contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan

Photo Credit

DoggyLoot – Daily Deals for Pups

01/25/2013 By Jenn Leave a Comment

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